THTR 3121 Chapter : Theatre 3121 Early Stuart
Document Summary
Romanticism had a predecessor in sturm und drang. This movement arose in late eighteenth century germany. It was a radical rejection of the influence of french neoclassicism. There was no unified aesthetic to the movement; various forms of revolt. Note the kinds of revolt against tradition exemplified by the examples below. 1773: johan wolfgang von goethe: goetz von berlichingen. Rejected the unities with a shakespearian scope of time, place, action. Rejected the idealization of truth with outrageous emotional outbursts. Rejected of morality with the advocacy of state sanctioned prostitution. Rejected decorum with an aristocratic figure turned into an outlaw robber. 1789 the revolution begins in france against absolute monarchy. Continuing political turmoil results in four constitutions in only ten years. By 1804 the military general bonaparte has been declared emperor of france. Germany was not a nation, so political revolution was impossible. Bonaparte defeated and greatly weakened the german lands for decades.
